STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines are considered key to the scientific and economic improvement in the United States. As noted by the Carnegie Corporation of New York (2011), we need a nation in which "all" teachers and thus, all students, are "STEM-capable" (p. 2), that is, equipped with a broad…

At-risk student bodies in public school districts have very different cultures of learning from mainstream learning communities. Policies and practices in schools tend to isolate these student bodies for convenience in administration and instruction, and little consideration is given to whether these experiences of isolation from the larger…

Critical thinking, viewed as rational and analytic thinking, is crucial for participation in a knowledge economy and society. This article provides a brief presentation of the importance of teaching critical thinking in a knowledge economy; suggests a conceptual model for teaching thinking; examines research on the historical role of teachers in…

This article describes instructional theory that supports post-industrial education and training systems--ones that are customized and learner-centered, in which student progress is based on learning rather than time. The author discusses the importance of problem-based instruction (PBI), identifies some problems with PBI, overviews an…

A discussion of student contracting, a plan whereby a teacher and a student or a group of students make an agreement that a certain amount of work is to be completed in a certain amount of time. (Author/HB)

Discussion of educational systems design describes four systems levels that can be emphasized: learning experience, instructional, administration, and governance levels. Factors to be considered in selecting a focus level and the implications of focusing on the learning experience level are discussed; and a table comparing instructional and…

Provides suggestions and concerns for integrating open learning and distance education concepts into a course designed for adult lifelong learners. Topics include a shift in educational paradigms from teacher-centered to learner-centered approaches, constructivism, restructuring the social context, and the use of media. (LRW)

Discusses the World Wide Web and epistemology in the context of higher education. Topics include the transformation of cultural assumptions by net-based information systems; information revolutions; views of and use of information technology; the organization of knowledge; and the changing role of students in educational history. (LRW)

Discussion of the integration of educational technology focuses on Internet integration in classrooms and its effect on students' learning and teacher-student relationships. Describes results of a study of Internet use among undergraduates, including positive and negative influences on student learning and the effects of Internet use on classroom…

Examines the relationship between instructional technology and cognition and discusses interactions between the learner and instructional media. Models of the learning process are described, including reactive, proactive, and interactive models; examples of each are given; and their implications for instructional design are suggested. (LRW)

Discusses a process in which stakeholders in a community can engage to advance their thinking about beliefs regarding education and ideal visions of education, as a first step toward educational reform. Also presents some beliefs about education that include the roles of students, teachers, parents, administration, and the community. (LRW)

Places three interrelated trends in online learning (reusable learning objects, blended learning, and instructional design) within the context of schools. Highlights include the need for collaboration and cooperation among schools; learning management systems; acquainting teachers with instructional design principles; redefining the roles of…

Discusses differences between instructional efficiency and instructional effectiveness, and proposes that environmental analysis should be incorporated into the front-end analysis stage of instructional design to increase instructional success. Highlights include the teachers' role; the students' role; physical aspects; use aspects; and management…